Narrow garage solutions?

masahiro · 05-12-2019, 08:18 PM

Hi guys, I have a 2-car garage split in the center with a support beam, resulting in a very narrow entrance. Combined with the fairly low seating position and wider fenders of the Z, its making parking an anxious job. I'm more worried that I'll eventually hit a side. What kind of practical solutions have you guys used? I saw some of those laser things, but I don't feel comfortable with those as I can't confirm visually that any of the sides won't scrape. Thanks!

Spartan 1771 · 05-12-2019, 08:21 PM

I recently bought a new house and have the same issues with my garage. What laser things are you referring to? I'm not so concerned about me, but my wife is another story. I know it's just a matter of time before the takes off one of the rearview mirrors on our family SUV.

masahiro · 05-12-2019, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spartan 1771

I recently bought a new house and have the same issues with my garage. What laser things are you referring to? I'm not so concerned about me, but my wife is another story. I know it's just a matter of time before the takes off one of the rearview mirrors on our family SUV.

It's basically a laser you mount on the roof of your garage so that a dot shines on the center of your dash (same idea as the hanging tennis ball trick). Problem with that is that it does nothing for the entry portion because the light wont be seen until my fenders are well into the garage.

BettyZ · 05-12-2019, 08:28 PM

You could buy a large, very thick section of foam and wrap it around the post. Also could line tennis balls up with the edges of the windshield

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

CRiZO · 05-12-2019, 09:03 PM

A big mirror like the drive-thru car washes have?

Pearl zed · 05-12-2019, 09:07 PM

Sister the existing center beam with LVL"s and remove the center post.

BettyZ · 05-12-2019, 09:57 PM

The post is probably just decorative. I'd tear it out.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

SouthArk370Z · 05-12-2019, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BettyZ

You could buy a large, very thick section of foam and wrap it around the post. Also could line tennis balls up with the edges of the windshield

+1
Depending on how big the pole is, you may be able to split a pool noodle and wrap it around the pole.
Hang the tennis ball from the bottom of the door and it will help you line up your entry when the door opens.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRiZO

A big mirror like the drive-thru car washes have?

+1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pearl zed

Sister the existing center beam with LVL"s and remove the center post.

+2
Might be a little on the expensive side, if you have to hire a carpenter, but sounds like the best option to me.

vtec to vvel · 05-12-2019, 10:08 PM

How narrow are the entrances? I live in an apartment and have a single-car garage that I have no problem getting in/out of. I can’t imagine a house garage entrance being narrower than an apartment garage.

masahiro · 05-12-2019, 10:39 PM

House is from the 70s and removing the center beam is not a realistic options (It would probably cost +$10,000). Anyway, I think some combination of mirrors might work.

Spartan 1771 · 05-12-2019, 11:13 PM

I'm going to give the mirror idea a shot on the passenger side.

RonRizz · 05-13-2019, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

+1

Hang the tennis ball from the bottom of the door .

I doubt that tennis ball would make it a mile before it cut loose, after dragging on the road..

Mark1010 · 05-13-2019, 08:57 PM

Half joking....lambo doors.

alcheng · 05-13-2019, 11:14 PM

paint a white/bright colour strip on the garage floor on the driver's side where it can guide you to align your Z properly thus you can drive straight into the garage with proper clearance from garage entrance.

you know.. like those lights that guide a plane when landing.

axmea? · 05-13-2019, 11:48 PM

Park into the garage backwards. Develop parking skills. Special guiding mirrors, lasers, and tennis balls are for amateurs but will certainly help until confidence is there.

05-12-2019, 08:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
masahiro Base Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 49 Drives: 19' 370z Rep Power: 3366	Narrow garage solutions? Hi guys, I have a 2-car garage split in the center with a support beam, resulting in a very narrow entrance. Combined with the fairly low seating position and wider fenders of the Z, its making parking an anxious job. I'm more worried that I'll eventually hit a side. What kind of practical solutions have you guys used? I saw some of those laser things, but I don't feel comfortable with those as I can't confirm visually that any of the sides won't scrape. Thanks! Spartan 1771 likes this.

05-12-2019, 08:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
Spartan 1771 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Western Maryland Posts: 1,280 Drives: Wife crazy & 09 370Z Rep Power: 105454	I recently bought a new house and have the same issues with my garage. What laser things are you referring to? I'm not so concerned about me, but my wife is another story. I know it's just a matter of time before the takes off one of the rearview mirrors on our family SUV. Ghostvette and JLarson like this. __________________ ~Rob -DD Air Guide, Stillen G3 CAIs, 63mm Throttle Bodies, Motordyne M370, Berk HFCs, FI TDX CBE (non-res, CF), Sprint booster v3, Ecutek Dyno Tuned, and the list goes on...

05-12-2019, 08:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
BettyZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Chicagoland Age: 37 Posts: 5,261 Drives: A Garage Queen Rep Power: 2684371	You could buy a large, very thick section of foam and wrap it around the post. Also could line tennis balls up with the edges of the windshield Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk SouthArk370Z, cv129 and MZ DAIZY like this. __________________ '14 MB Nismo \| Boost Lab 6870 1.32 AR 553 HP / 471 ft.-lbs. Betty Mods

05-12-2019, 09:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
CRiZO Track Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Dallas Posts: 672 Drives: in traffic Rep Power: 20698	A big mirror like the drive-thru car washes have? Spartan 1771, SouthArk370Z, cv129 and 1 others like this.

05-12-2019, 09:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
Pearl zed Base Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Orleans MA Posts: 98 Drives: 19' mt silver sport Rep Power: 9	Sister the existing center beam with LVL"s and remove the center post. SouthArk370Z, JARblue and Memphis370Z like this.

05-12-2019, 09:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
BettyZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Chicagoland Age: 37 Posts: 5,261 Drives: A Garage Queen Rep Power: 2684371	The post is probably just decorative. I'd tear it out. Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk JLarson likes this. __________________ '14 MB Nismo \| Boost Lab 6870 1.32 AR 553 HP / 471 ft.-lbs. Betty Mods

05-12-2019, 10:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
vtec to vvel A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: 813 Posts: 3,915 Drives: 13 Z Rep Power: 502909	How narrow are the entrances? I live in an apartment and have a single-car garage that I have no problem getting in/out of. I can’t imagine a house garage entrance being narrower than an apartment garage. rey127 likes this. __________________ Don't like what I post? Too bad. I really don't give a sh!t

05-12-2019, 10:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
masahiro Base Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 49 Drives: 19' 370z Rep Power: 3366	House is from the 70s and removing the center beam is not a realistic options (It would probably cost +$10,000). Anyway, I think some combination of mirrors might work.

05-12-2019, 11:13 PM	#11 (permalink)
Spartan 1771 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Western Maryland Posts: 1,280 Drives: Wife crazy & 09 370Z Rep Power: 105454	I'm going to give the mirror idea a shot on the passenger side. __________________ ~Rob -DD Air Guide, Stillen G3 CAIs, 63mm Throttle Bodies, Motordyne M370, Berk HFCs, FI TDX CBE (non-res, CF), Sprint booster v3, Ecutek Dyno Tuned, and the list goes on...

05-13-2019, 08:57 PM	#13 (permalink)
Mark1010 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: no where Posts: 68 Drives: Not a Z Rep Power: 15	Half joking....lambo doors.

05-13-2019, 11:14 PM	#14 (permalink)
alcheng A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Toronto Posts: 28,894 Drives: 2011 ZR PW w/Clutch Rep Power: 418353	paint a white/bright colour strip on the garage floor on the driver's side where it can guide you to align your Z properly thus you can drive straight into the garage with proper clearance from garage entrance. you know.. like those lights that guide a plane when landing. Spartan 1771 and Ghostvette like this.

05-13-2019, 11:48 PM	#15 (permalink)
axmea? A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,235 Drives: WELL ZED PW 6MT Rep Power: 53241	Park into the garage backwards. Develop parking skills. Special guiding mirrors, lasers, and tennis balls are for amateurs but will certainly help until confidence is there. MplsPete likes this. __________________ >MyZ's Album< NISMO Convert/ECUTEK/Takeda CAI/F.I. HFC NR CB Carbon/F.I. 34 Row Oil Cooler/4.08 Final Drive /Powertrix+Swifts/Hotchkis/SPL/Whiteline/TWM/Zoom Engineering/EVO-R/AeroJacket Vented CF Fenders + CF Spoiler/Avant Garde-WORK/NST/Morimoto Halo/STi Clear Lenses/Carbon Signal Automotive/RJM Performance/ZSpeed Clutch Flywheel CSC delete

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